BLESSING OTHERS
J.P.Wheeler
2 Corinthians 9: 6,7 (to "heart"); 10: 1 (to "of the Christ");
1 Peter 3: 9 (to "blessing others")
I thought of these scriptures in regard of our beloved sister's testimony. Our beloved sister partook in a very deep way of spiritual blessing in her own soul and it went out to others. It says in Peter "but on the contrary, blessing others". It is a wonderful thing to be enjoying the sunshine of God's blessing so that it goes out from oneself to others. Our beloved sister thought of others; with every one who passed through her care I am sure she sought to have a word about the Lord Jesus. She never failed to use those words the name of the Lord Jesus; they were precious to her, May we all come into blessing as being under His control.
So these scriptures show the spirit of blessing. Paul goes on to mention the word 'righteousness' it is right, it is a sound principle, the principle of blessing; it says at the end of verse 9, "his righteousness remains for ever". Then in 1 Peter 3 it goes on to say the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous" (v 12). It is a right thought and a right spirit to be thinking of blessing, blessing for others. There are those in this room that our beloved sister has spoken to about the Lord Jesus since they were young, and there are others to that she put her whole self into praying and yearning for - that they might be in the path of the Lord's will at the present time. She mentioned the names of some of those here. Paul says "I myself, Paul" - he put everything he could into that, his whole self was in that expression - "entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ". I seek to take these things to myself.
Word at a burial
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
17 August 1979
THE CHILDREN'S FAVOUR
When the Lord Jesus was here on earth He welcomed little children to come to Him. He took them in His arms, laid His hands on them and blessed them 'abundantly' as Mark records. This shows the place of favour that the younger ones have in Christianity, and God begins often quite early to touch their hearts and make way for Christ in them. It is also interesting to recall that, as a babe, Jesus was Himself taken into the arms of Simeon in the temple at Jerusalem. But in that case it was Joseph and Mary who received the blessing. They must certainly have felt highly favoured in being entrusted with the holy Child. Now we, as believers young and old, are entrusted with the witness to His name, since He is not now here personally but is glorified at the right hand of God:
As we grow up and realise in some way that God is speaking to us we begin to wonder how it is that we, being sinners, can be in His favour. This was evidently the feeling of one such who was in deep distress of soul. She said to her friend 'I am afraid God will never accept me'. 'No, He never will in yourself' was the unexpected answer. Then seeing the look of blank astonishment that this reply caused, her friend said again 'He never will - but He has accepted Christ!' The word of scripture is that God "has taken us into favour in the Beloved", that is Jesus.
In this country there are certain houses owned by the Queen and known as 'grace and favour houses'. As monarch she can allow anyone she chooses to live in them. No doubt those whom she favours in this way have rendered to her or to the country some service that makes them worthy of her choice. But the grace of God is unmerited favour. It shows itself in the fact that His present attitude to the needy sinner is quite apart from anything favourable in the sinner. Queen Elizabeth I once wanted to attach conditions to a free pardon but she was met with the response, 'Grace that is fettered by conditions is no grace at all'. It has often been said that divine grace is righteous because the work of Christ satisfies God, silences Satan and saves the sinner. Do you enjoy this grace?
J.C.Evershed